Bengals vs. Seahawks score, takeaways: Cincinnati gets to .500 after winning defensive battle against Seattle

Cincinnati's defense came up big in the second half

Fittingly, a big defensive play sealed the Bengals' 17-13 win over the Seahawks. With Seattle threatening to win the game, Bengals defensive lineman B.J. Hill forced Geno Smith to throw an incomplete pass on fourth down from Cincinnati's 9-yard line with 41 seconds left. 

A defensive duel broke out after three touchdowns were scored on the game's first four drives. In fact, the Bengals' only points in the second half (a 52-yard field goal by Evan McPherson) were set up by Cam Taylor-Britt's interception with Seattle threatening to take the lead early in the fourth quarter. The field goal was big in that it forced the Seahawks to try to score touchdowns instead of field goals on their final two drives. Seattle came up empty both times while falling to 3-2 on the season. The win propelled the Bengals to a 3-3 record after an 0-2 start to the season. 

The Seahawks got the ball first and took an early lead on Kenneth Walker III's 1-yard touchdown run that capped off an 11-play, 75-yard drive. Cincinnati countered with consecutive drives that ended with Joe Burrow touchdown passes. Burrow first hit veteran Tyler Boyd for an 8-yard touchdown pass before be connected with rookie Andrei Iosivas for the go-ahead score. Burrow completed 15 consecutive passes in the first half that included five completions for 67 yards to Ja'Marr Chase, who caught just one pass in the second half. 

Seattle managed to cut its deficit before halftime on Jason Myers' 55-yard field goal that was set up by a 21-yard run by Walker and DK Metcalf's 12-yard catch on a third-down play. The catch was Metcalf's only one during the first half. 

The two teams combined to score just two field goals in the second half. Red zone woes played Seattle in the second half, while the Seahawks pass rush helped limit the Bengals to just 71 total yards after halftime. 

Here's a closer look at how the Bengals pulled out the win. 

Why the Bengals won 

Cincinnati's defense came up with several big stops that included Taylor-Britt's critical pick, Mike Hilton's pick of Smith midway through the third quarter, Hill's pressure on Smith on Seattle's final offensive play and Sam Hubbard's sack of Smith on fourth-and-goal on the Seahawks' second-to-last drive. 

Logan Wilson was a constant thorn in Seattle's side with 11 tackles and a key sack that forced a Seahawks punt in the first half. Wilson and Co. helped limit Walker to just 16 yards on nine carries in the second half. 

Why the Seahawks lost 

While their defense played winning football, Seattle's offense was unable to make a critical play in the second half when it needed it most. An example of that was Smith's first pick after Tre Brown picked off Burrow on the Bengals' ensuing possession. Seattle was only able to come away with a field goal after a 23-yard punt return by DeeJay Dallas gave the Seahawks the ball on the Bengals' 43-yard line late in the third quarter. 

Turning point 

Seattle was threatening to take the lead after Smith hit rookie wideout Jake Bobo for a 23-yard gain shortly after Brown's pick of Burrow. But Seattle came up empty when Smith's pass intended for rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba was intercepted by Hilton at the Bengals' 3-yard-line. 

Taylor-Britt's fourth-quarter pick was just as big as it forced Seattle to have to go for it on consecutive fourth downs in the game's final minutes. 

Play of the game 

Hill deserves some love for his game-winning play on the Bengals' final defensive play. Hill's play came after Trey Hendrickson came up with a big play of his own after he sacked Smith for a 12-yard loss on Seattle's previous drive after the Seahawks had reached the red zone. Hubbard then finished the drive by sacking Smith on fourth-and-goal. 

Quotable 

"We got the win. It's a lot easier to fix things when you're 3-3 than if you had lost this one. Never going to apologize for a win." -- Burrow on the Bengals' win 

Bengals birthday boys deliver 

Taylor-Britt and Iosivas both had memorable games on their 24th birthday. Along with is pick, Taylor-Britt came up with another big play when his breakup of a third-down pass intended for Tyler Lockett forced Seattle to settle for a field goal on its second drive of the second half. Iosivas' touchdown catch proved to be the game-winning score. 

What's next 

Cincinnati will enter its Week 7 bye before facing the 49ers in San Francisco in Week 8. The two teams played in a highly entertaining game back in 2021 that was won by the 49ers in overtime. San Francisco saw its 15-game regular season unbeaten streak end Sunday in Cleveland. 

Seattle will return home to face the Cardinals next Sunday in an NFC West division showdown. Arizona entered the day with a 1-4 record with its only win coming against the Cowboys back in Week 3. 

[Oct 15, 2023 at 3:49 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Smith hits Lockett for 36 but almost gets picked off by Hill on the next play. Seahawks have two plays to get 9 yards. 

[Oct 15, 2023 at 3:41 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Smith sacked by Hubbard on fourth down. Looked like Smith was trying to hit Metcalf on a cross but Smith hesitated and Hubbard got through and sacked Smith. 

[Oct 15, 2023 at 3:38 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Smith to Metcalf again gives Seattle a first down at the Bengals' 7-yard-line. Hendrickson sacks Smith on the next play, however, as Seattle now faces a rough stretch now if they're trying to take the lead. 

[Oct 15, 2023 at 3:36 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Metcalf finally gets his big play on a 30-yard grab down the far sideline. Seahawks enter the red zone after an 11-yard run by Smith. Would think it's four-down territory for Seahawks with just over 4 minutes left. 

[Oct 15, 2023 at 3:33 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Mafe sacks Burrow as the loss of Orlando Brown is becoming a factor. 

[Oct 15, 2023 at 3:32 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Burrow and Chase finally connect this half for a 13-yard gain. He's up to six catches for 80 yards (Caesars over/under was 88.5).